Paint applicator



March 25, 1958 E. w. PERRY PAINT APPLICATOR Filed June 17, 1955 4 IN V EN TOR.

[OW/IEO W. PERRY BY ,od, dflhxflm ATTOIP/VFYS United States This invention relates to surface coating apparatus and more particularly to a paint applicator which not only applies paint but also contains a supply of paint.

The principal object of this invention is to providean improved roller type painting devicefor applying paint to various types of surfaces.

'Another object is to provide an improved meansfor more evenly transferring and dispersing paint upon. the dispensing roller of a painting device.

Another object is to provide a painting device containing a reservoir which feeds paint to a dispensing roller by gravity during the painting operation.

A further object'is to provide a painting device which receives paint at one point on its periphery and dispenses it to a'receiving surface at another .pointon its periphery, In one continuous operation.

'Another object of the, present invention is to provide a paintingdevice characterized by its structural simplicity, the ease of assembly of its parts, its strong and sturdy nature and its low manufacturing cost. Other features of'thisinventionreside inthe arrangement and design of the parts for carrying out their appropriate functions.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawing and the description of the essential features will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of an embodiment of my novel painting device.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the painting device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional detail view, taken along the plane of line 33 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the paint reservoir taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3 showing the novel adjustable paint transfer means.

In Figs. 1 to 4, an embodiment of my invention is shown, wherein a hollow cylindrical reservoir 130 is provided with an inlet port 132 having internal threads 144 which are adapted to engage external threads 133 at one end of an elongated hollow cylindrical handle 146. Said handle 146 serves as a paint containing means and supplies the reservoir 13!) with paint to be dispersed upon the roller 145. The roller 145 is rotatably mounted on an axle 147 which has its ends retained in radially extending end plates 149 of the reservoir 130., The roller is positioned adjacent and in contiguous relationship with the reservoir 130. Approximately A of the peripheral area of the roller is in contact with the reservoir as most clearly seen in Fig. 3. The outer wall of reservoir 130 is provided with a longitudinally extending slot 131 along that portion which contacts roller 145. Said slot 131 provides fluid communication between the reservoir and the roller. The rate of flow through said slot is controlled by an adjustable plate 134 which extends along the entire length of said slot. The plate is movable in a direc- 1 atent 2 tion perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the slot 131 so as to cover all or any part of said slot. Said plateis mounted on the outer periphery of the reservoir bymeans of pins or bolts 136 fastened to said reservoir and slidable elongated slots 137 contained at each end of plate 134.

In order to assure a constant flow of paint to the roller, and particularly when the roller portion is held'higher than the handle, a longitudinally extending plate 138 is fastened'tothe interior wall of the reservoir. One longitudinally extending edge of the plate is fastened to the interior wall by means of screws 139 while the other edge extends beneath slot 131 in spaced relation'thereto, so as toform a pocket. Liquid from the reservoir is gathered in said pocket during .normal .use, and'in extreme situations as when painting ceilings, the pocket WhlCh confines paint in a relatively small space will provide means for disseminating paint to the surface ofthe roller.

The elongated hollow cylindrical member 146 functions both as a handle and an initial supply means for the paint which is to be dispensed by the reservoir into the roller 145.

An air valve for preventing air locks which restrict the flow of fiuid is provided in the hadle 146. Said valve comprises a hollow chamber 147 threadedlinto .the wall of member 146. A sliding rod 148is inserted withqthe chamber 147. The rod carries a piston atone end which cooperates with the innerendof the.chamber..147 to'form a seal. An expansion spring.,150.is:interposed between the outer edge of chamber 147 and the finger piece 151 and .normallytends to actuate the valve piston to its outer or sealing position.

With the above described device it is possible .to retain a relatively large supply of paint within the deviceitseif, which enables uninterrupted painting, thus making possible. a. great saving of time and effort. .In addition, it insures delivery of paint to the rollerat substantially-all angles except when held absolutely vertical to the ceilmg.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, it is believed that a clear understanding of the construction, operation and advantages of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art.

It is to be further understood, however, that even through there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

l. A paint applicator comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical handle, an elongated hollow cylindrical fluid reservoir in fluid communication with said handle, said '"eservoir detachably mounted to said handle, transversely spaced end plates mounted on said reservoir, an elongated cylindrical dispensing roller rotatably and detachably mounted between said end plates, said roller and reservoir having their axes parallel to one another, and having surface contact over approximately of their totai peripheral area, an adjustable discharge orifice in said reservoir at the point of surface contact with said roller, said orifice comprising a slot extending axially of said roller in the wall of said reservoir, an adjustable plate on the outer surface of said reservoir extending longitudinally adjacent said slot, said plate being slidable perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said slot so as to cover all or any part of said slot, said orifice provid ing fluid communication with said roller, pocket means comprising a plate having one side edge fastened to the interior wall of said reservoir adjacent said slot, and extending parallel to and in spaced relationship from said 515:; suitable end walls at the distal ends of said ,t atably and: detachablymount ed between said end plates,

said, roller and reservoir having surface contact, an adjustable discharge orifice in said reservoir at the point of surface contacewith said :rolleflsa id orifice comprising an elongated nounine wallfof said reservoir, an adjust'able plate on the outeisur faceofsaidl reservoir extending parallel to said "slot, isaidfplatei being slidable across said fslo't so a's to-.c'o ver. all or an'y' part'of said slot, said orifice providingfluid communication with said'roller, pocket means comprising a plate having one side'edge fastenedto the interior wall of said reservoir adjacent said slot, and extending parallel tofand in spaced 7 relationship from said slot, therdistal ends of said plate sealingly engagingthe "end walls of said reservoirand thereby forming a pocket around said slot, said plate in position "to gather liquid from said reservoir as the applicator is actuated during use and facilitating dissemination of the liquid through said orifice onto the surface of said roller, and air valve means positioned in said handle to assure continuous flow of the fluid.

3. A paint applicator comprising a handle, an elongated hollow cylindrical fluid reservoir mounted on said handle, transversely spaced end plates mounted on said reservoir, an elongated cylindrical dispensing roller rotatably mountedbetween said end plates, said reservoir in approximately tangential contact with said roller, a discharge orifice in said reservoir at the point of tangential contact with said roller, said orifice comprising an elongated slot in the wall of said reservoir, said orifice providing fluid communication with said roller, pocket a 4 means comprising a plate having one side edge fastened to the interior wall of said reservoir adjacent said slot and extending parallel to said slot thereby forming a pocket beneath said slot, and said pocket in position to' gather liquid from said reservoir as the applicator is actuated during use and facilitating dissemination of the liquid through said orificetonto the surface of said roller.

4. A paint applicator comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical handle, a fluid reservoir in 'fiuid communication with said handle, said reservoir detachably mounted to said handle, transversely spaced end plates mounted on said reservoir, a-dispensing roller rotatably and detachably mounted between said end plates, an adjustable discharge orifice in-said reservoir at the point of surface contact with said roller, said orifice comprising a slot in the wall of said reservoir, said orifice providing fluid communication with said roller, means retaining the liquid in; said; reservoir above the level of said slot said means comprising a baffle-between said'slot and said hollow handlepan open space above said baffle wherein fiuid may flow from said hollow handle over said baffie and thereby be retained in the area between said battle and said slot, said bathe in position to gather liquid from said reservoir as the applicator is actuated during use and facilitating dissemination of the liquid through said orifice onto the surface of said roller, and air valve t means positioned in said handle to assure continuous flow of the fluid.

References .Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

